The Revelstoke Grizzlies lost two home games last weekend, getting blown out 13-3 by the Kamloops Storm on Friday night and 7-1 by the Sicamous Eagles on Friday.
On Friday, Revelstoke hosted Kamloops – arguably the best team in the KIJHL – and the result wasn’t pretty. Kamloops scored five goals in just over five minutes in the first period, added three more goals in the second and had another five goal outburst in the third for the win.
Brodie Buhler, Kohl Bell and Riley Creighton scored for the Grizzlies in the loss. Matthew Mitchell was in the net for all 13 Kamloops’ goals; he was peppered with 65 shots throughout the game.
On Saturday, the Grizzlies hosted the Eagles in a game that was closer on the ice than it was on the scoreboard. Both teams fired 41 shots on net, but the Eagles found the back of the net seven times to the Grizzlies once.
Sicamous scored twice in the first to jump out to a 2-0 lead and added four more in the second period to blow the game open. Matt Lucero scored the Grizzlies lone goal in the third period.
“It’s tough. We just can’t get a break,” said coach Sheldon Nohr following Saturday’s game. “Honestly and truthfully, the end of the second and the third, we outplayed them huge, but we couldn’t buy a goal.”
With the trade deadline approaching, Nohr said to not expect any moves because the team has no more cards left to bring any players in.
“I can get rid of guys, but I can’t bring anyone back because we’re out of cards,” he said.
The team has lost two of its best players. Starting goaltender Aaron Brandoli left the team over the holidays and captain and leading scorer Devon Hascarl was acquired by the Cold Lake Ice of the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League. He played his last games with the Grizzlies on the weekend.
“It benefits me better. I can work when I’m there. Their team’s doing pretty well right now and it gives me a shot for the Keystone,” said Hascarl, who has spent four years with the Grizzlies organization. “You want to play as long as you can play and go as far as you can. There gives me a better opportunity, and I’ll have some money to spend for the summer.”
The Grizzlies head to the East Kootenays this weekend to take on the Fernie Ghostriders on Friday and the Creston Valley Thunder Cats on Saturday. On Wednesday, Jan. 15, the team is in Golden to face the Rockets.
